Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Roses are Red, Valentine's Day is Green

While Valentine's Day often involves a lot of shopping, I think there's something to be said for the holiday in terms of sustainability. After all, the gifts are often of the small and personal type. Plus, there's all that organic chocolate, and who can complain about that?
If you're looking for something unique for your sweetheart, try the Lover's Essential Oil Sampler from Mountain Rose Herbs, featuring fragrant organic Ylang Ylang, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Palmarosa, Clary Sage, and Rose oils ($55).
Jewelry is another great Valentine's Day tradition. If you're in the market for a diamond, take a look at Brilliant Earth, a Canadian jeweler that guarantees ethically and sustainably produced stones. For something a little funkier, check out some of Etsy's hand-crafted Valentine's Day offerings.
Looking for something simple? Almost everyone loves chocolate, especially if it's organic and fair trade. Organic Bouquet has plenty of options for a variety of tastes. If it's down to the wire, consider Veriflora certified flowers from flowerbud.com. These flowers are sustainably and ethically grown, and prices (starting at around $70) include overnight shipping.